Barking vs. music: Neighbors’ dispute results in arrest

WINSTED — A Winsted man was arrested after he became combative with officers during a dispute with a neighbor, and is facing additional charges after he urinated on a blanket while in police custody, according to police.

Jeffrey Liles, 45, of Spencer Street, was arrested Nov. 13 and charged with second-degree breach of peace, interfering with an officer/resisting arrest, and two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, according to court records.

Police were called to Spencer Street twice within an hour on Nov. 13 to respond to a disturbance involving Liles and his neighbor, according to a probable cause report. Liles was playing music loudly, and told police he was doing so in response to his neighbor’s dogs.

According to police reports, an officer said he and another officer had recommended Liles contact his landlord in the morning about the issue with the neighbor, and not to bother the individual in the meantime as they felt threatened by his presence, and for Liles to be quiet in his apartment for the rest of the evening.

Officers were then called back to the scene, according to two other probable cause reports.

“Liles stated he was playing his music loudly due to (the neighbor’s) dogs keeping him up all hours of the day and night. I advised Liles that I had previously warned him about his tumultuous behavior and he said do what you have to do.

“I asked Liles to go inside his apartment for the evening and he stated, ‘No, I am not,’ and stood facing me in an aggressive stance with his chest flexed outward and arms bent at the elbow at his sides with (clenched) fists,” an officer said in his report of the latter call.

Two officers arrested him and Liles attempted to pull away multiple times and continued to act aggressively and pulled away once again when brought to a cruiser by multiple officers, according to an officer.

In his summary of the event, an officer wrote Liles had been “verbally combative” when discussing the issue, but complied with instructions to turn around and put his hands behind his back.

He then became “combative” with the two officers, attempting to pull away, according to the officer.

Liles was later charged with two counts of thirddegree criminal mischief stemming from his conduct in the cell, according to a fourth probable cause report. He was given a blanket, and “became belligerent and pushed the blanket through the bars,” according to a Winsted police officer.

“We left the cell block. Liles was reported by dispatch to be urinating on the blanket and floor outside the cell. I explained to Liles that he was being charged with criminal mischief third degree. He said he did not care,” said the officer in the report.

“At (3:11 a.m.), he again urinated on the floor outside his cell. A second count was added to his charges.”

Liles was held on $12,000 bond, according to court records.

He was arraigned Nov. 14 in state Superior Court in Torrington. His bail was reduced to a written promise to appear in court and he was directed not to have contact with the victim or use alcohol or drugs, according to court records.

His case was continued to Dec. 12.